It is ’business as usual’ at the Covid-19 testing lab despite a private sector partner pulling out, insists Health Minister David Ashford.

Dr Rachel Glover, who was instrumental in setting up the island’s Covid testing lab, announced on Twitter that her Taxagenomics company would no longer be involved.

She had previously resigned from her role within the lab over disagreements with the government’s Covid testing policy.

Taxagenomics supplied testing reagents for the lab.

The Health Minister said the decision ’changes nothing in relation to testing’.

He said: ’It is business as usual. There is no reduction in testing capacity.’

Mr Ashford said Dr Glover did have some equipment in the testing centre which was used while the department’s own replacement equipment was on order.

’That has now arrived and as was planned has replaced Dr Glover’s equipment,’ he said. ’All staff within the testing area are DHSC employees, none work for Rachel’s company.’

Mr Ashford added: ’I would like to take the opportunity to thank Dr Glover once again for the wonderful work she has done to date supporting the on-island testing regime and the work she has done in working with the team over what has been an unprecedented period.’

Dr Glover said: ’We decline to comment at this time.’